About

MISSION

The Grey Art Gallery is New York University’s fine arts museum, located on historic Washington Square Park in New York City’s Greenwich Village. As a university art museum, the Grey Art Gallery functions to collect, preserve, study, document, interpret, and exhibit the evidence of human culture. While these goals are common to all museums, the Grey distinguishes itself by emphasizing art’s historical, cultural, and social contexts, with experimentation and interpretation as integral parts of programmatic planning. Thus, in addition to being a place to view the objects of material culture, the Gallery serves as a museum-laboratory in which a broader view of an object’s environment enriches our understanding of its contribution to civilization.

HISTORY

The Grey Art Gallery is located within New York University’s Silver Center–the site of NYU’s original home, the legendary University Building (1835 to 1892). Winslow Homer, Daniel Huntington, Samuel Colt, George Innes, and Henry James all lived and worked there, as did Professor Samuel F. B. Morse, who established the first academic fine arts department in America on the site now occupied by the Grey Art Gallery.

Demolished in 1892, the original building was replaced by the Main Building (renamed the Silver Center in 2002). Here was located, from 1927 to 1942, A. E. Gallatin’s Museum of Living Art, NYU’s first art museum and the first institution in this country to exhibit work by Picasso, Léger, Mirò, Mondrian, Arp and members of the American Abstract Artists group. Gallatin aspired to create a forum for intellectual exchange, a place where artists would congregate to acquaint themselves with the latest developments in contemporary art. In 1975, with a generous gift from Mrs. Abby Weed Grey, the Museum’s original space was renovated, offices and a collection storage facility were added, and the doors were reopened as the Grey Art Gallery.

Exhibitions organized by the Grey Art Gallery encompass aspects of all the visual arts: painting, sculpture, drawing and printmaking, photography, architecture and decorative arts, video, film, and performance. In addition to originating its own exhibitions, some of which travel throughout the United States and abroad, the Gallery hosts traveling exhibitions.

Award-winning scholarly publications, distributed worldwide, are published by the Grey Art Gallery. In conjunction with its exhibitions, the Grey also sponsors public programs, including lectures, symposia, panel discussions, and films.

The museum is free to all NYU students, faculty, and staff. There is a suggested donation of $3 for all other museum visitors.

How do I arrange for a group visit or tour?

The Grey Art Gallery offers tours of its current exhibitions led by NYU student gallery guides. Please clickherefor further information.

Is the Grey available for private event rentals?

Unfortunately, the museum is not available for rental.

Can the Gallery appraise my artwork or artifacts?

The Grey staff does not authenticate or perform appraisals of works of art or artifacts for the public. We suggest that you consult a certified appraiser or auction house. You may also contact the Appraisers Association of America to get more information on certain types of appraisals.

I’m an artist. Can I send you information about my work?

The Grey Art Gallery does not accept unsolicited artist submissions, and we cannot respond to or return unsolicited material.

I have an idea for an exhibition. Can I send it to you?

The Grey Art Gallery will review proposals from curators and art institutions. However, before submitting a proposal, please keep in mind that given our staff size, the academic calendar, and limited resources, the Grey hosts only three exhibitions a year, one of which we originate ourselves, and is typically booked three years in advance. Additionally, the Grey shows relatively few solo exhibitions of contemporary artists since there are so many New York venues dedicated to this purpose. Although our shows are certainly diverse, they tend to be more historical in nature and are usually presented in collaboration with NYU faculty and staff.

Please take time to view our website, look into previously held exhibitions, and consider our mission before submitting your proposal.

To submit a proposal, please mail the following items to the Grey Art Gallery’s address.

A written statement

A printed sample of images to be included in the exhibition (no digital files, please)

Budget

Space requirements

Mail to:
Grey Art Gallery
New York University
100 Washington Square East
New York, NY 10003

Due to the high volume of proposals we receive, it may take up to six months to respond to your submission. We cannot return any proposal materials.

Are large bags permitted on site?

If you arrive carrying a bag or backpack larger than 11 x 14 in. we will ask you to check it in with the front desk.

Is the Grey handicap accessible?

The Gallery is accessible to people with disabilities. If you anticipate problems using the Grey’s few entrance steps, please call 212.998.6780 and we will be happy to make arrangements.

Are mobile devices permitted in the galleries?

You may text or tweet during your visit. However, please set your phone to vibrate and take all voice calls outside of the galleries.

Is filming allowed in the museum?

No. Filming is not allowed inside of the Grey.

I’d like to donate a work of art to the Grey. What should I do?

Given our limited storage, the Grey Art Gallery does not actively acquire or accept many works into the NYU Art Collection. Furthermore, donations that are accepted usually complement the strengths of the NYU collections such as Downtown New York or Modern Asian and Middle Eastern Art. To submit art for consideration, supply a digital photograph and basic information about the work (title, artist, year, dimensions, acquisition history) to greyartgallery@nyu.edu. The Grey cannot advise collectors regarding the value of their artwork nor can the Grey’s staff provide authentication services.

Can I give to the Grey?

Aboslutely! Click here to learn about different ways to support the Grey.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The Grey Art Gallery will review proposals from curators and art institutions. However, before submitting a proposal, please keep in mind that given our staff size, the academic calendar, and limited resources, the Grey hosts only three exhibitions a year, one of which we originate ourselves, and is typically booked three years in advance. Additionally, the Grey shows relatively few solo exhibitions of contemporary artists since there are so many New York venues dedicated to this purpose. Although our shows are certainly diverse, they tend to be more historical in nature and are usually presented in collaboration with NYU faculty and staff.

Please take time to view our website, look into previously held exhibitions, and consider our mission before submitting your proposal.

To submit a proposal, please mail the following items to the Grey Art Gallery’s address.

A written statement

A printed sample of images to be included in the exhibition (no digital files, please)

Budget

Space requirements

Mail to:
Grey Art Gallery
New York University
100 Washington Square East
New York, NY 10003

Due to the high volume of proposals we receive, it may take up to six months to respond to your submission. We cannot return any proposal materials.

STAFF

Director
Lynn Gumpert

Associate Director | Head of Collections and Exhibitions
Michele Wong

Head of AdministrationJodi Hanel

Head of Education and ProgramsLucy Oakley

Exhibitions and Publications CoordinatorLaurie Duke

Chief PreparatorRichard Wager

Preparator
Noah Landfield

Assistant to the Director | Press OfficerAlly Mintz

Administrative AssistantAmber Lynn

Registrarial AssistantSaskia Verlaan

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